Conveyer



E. H. MALTBY Jan. 18, 1938.

CONVEYER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1934 15rd floor Edward HMQZ@ E.H. MALTBY Jan. 18, 1938.

CONVEYER Filed NOV. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 18, 1938. E. H.MALTBY 2,105,922

CONVEYER Filed Nov. 26, I934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 18, 1938.

E. H. MALTBY CONVEYER Filed Nov. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan.18, 1938 CONVEYER Edward H. Maltby, White Bear Lake, Minn assignor toStandard Conveyor Company, a corporation of Minnesota.

Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,721

14 Claims. (Cl. 193-36) In connection with spiral conveyors having aplurality of vertically spaced convolutions, it is frequently desirableto take off or divert the loads or feed them to the main conveyer at oneor more points intermediate the ends of the main conveyer. The switchdevices heretofore provided have been cumbersome, relatively diflicultto operate and have occupied such space that they are unsuited for usewith a spiral conveyer where the movable guide rails and actuatingmechanism;

Fig. is a side elevation illustrating the switch in detail with thesupporting and guiding mechanism for the several rollers;

Fig. 6 is an isometric-bottom view illustrating a pair of the rollerassemblies and their guiding arms;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the rollers and the available spaceis small, as in cases where arm, as seen from the top; 10 the pitch orvertical spacing of the convolutions Fig. 8 is a plan view showing myimproved is of relatively small size. switch in connection with astraight main con- It is an object of the present invention to proveyerand a pair of branch or intersecting convide a compact, smoothlyoperating section of veyers;

5 a spiral conveyer which may be quickly and Fig. 9 is a plan View of asupporting plate for 5' easily moved laterally to switch loads to orfrom the switch rollers;

a branch conveyer, chute or place of deposit Fig. 10 is a plan view ofone of the frame memfor the load. bars with perforations for the rollerguide pivots,

A particular object is to provide a novel secand tion of rollers adaptedto constitute a part of a 11 s a Central Vertical Section thIOIIgh One 20 spiral or curved conveyer and having individual of the ball castersfor suppor the ro rollers which are relatively movable to extendReferring to the numeral l2 indieetes at various angles to each other. Ithe spiral conveyer down which the loads, usu'- Another object of theinvention is to provide ally in the f rm of pa ka es r th r containersnovel and efficient supporting and guiding means of goods, may heCarried ro e t d floor I3 25' for individually movable rollers in aswitch of the t0 e fi fl e Of y p v c e type in which said rollers areadapted to extend l5 ms a p t Of the main c ey d is radially to a curveor in parallel relation to each adap in O e position to d ve t e leadsto a other to form a straight section, branch conveyer ll located at asecond floor I6.

A further object is to provide a switch having In the Construction Ofthe Switch shown 30 individually movable rollers at th junction of indetail in Figs. 2 to 11 inclusive, a smooth metal intersecting conveyersand novel mechanism for plate o Size and Shape Suitable to pp a guidingthe loads along said rollers to either of Series Of conveyer indicatedby e the intersecting conveyers. merals l9 to 26 respectively, ismounted on a Other objects are to facilitate the movement Suitable ra eto extend u t a y OI O 5 of such a switch and render it more durable bytelly at e Slight ihelihe- Extending p ra providing antifrictionsupports for the rollers and t0 and beneath each of the e e 9 t0 6 iS aa novel arrangement of pivoted and interconrigid bar 27 carrying 011 itsends up nected arms adapted to coordinate the movement flanged membersWhich pp the axial of the individual rollers and retain them at allhafts or tuds 29 upon which the are 40 times approximately radially tothe curve formed P m manner Well known n thls by the Switch Rig dlysecured to each end of each of the bars Referring to the accompanyingdrawings which a an angle Chp avmg downwafrdly illustrate the best formof my device at'present Jectmg flange 30 whlch .oveflapsland 1S secltredknown to 1 to a flange 3| on a foot piece 32. Each foot plece Figure 1 adiagrammatic muymtion of a 32 has mounted on its bottom. a ball caster33, typical Spiral conveyer with my immjmfed takpofi preferablyconstructed as illustrated in Fig. 11, v to reduce friction to aminimum. The caster or Switch a portion of the being broken illustratedhas a relatively large spherical memy to P 1 clearly w the sW1tch; ber34 confined by a casing which is flanged in- 50 7 2 1S perspecPve of thec mam ward to retain the said member. A multiplicity splr a1 conveyerand omnch conveyer; of relatively small balls 35 are revolubly mounted 3is at 101811 View Of the Switch and adjacent between the upper surfaceof the member 34 and portions of the Spiral and branch eehveyers; aconcavely spherical seat 36. It will be under- 4 is e Side v ionparticula y S owing stood that the contacting surfaces of the mem- 55hers 34, 35 and 35 are hard and durable and that the member 34 is freeto rotate in all directions in use.

To guide the several rollers l9 to 26 in different arcs on the plate I8,I provide arms 31, 38, 39, 40, 4|, 42, 43 and 44 extending inoverlapping relation to each other and movable in planes substantiallyparallel to the plate 48. Projecting downward from one end of the arm 31is a pivotal support 45 having a reduced stud or pin 46 fitting in aperforation 41 in the plate i8 and in a perforation 48 in a plate 49extending parallel to the plate l8 (see Figs. 5, 9 and 10). The arm 3'!is rigidly secured to the bottom of the bar 21 supporting the roller [9and extends-at right angles to said bar. The arms 38 to 44 areprogressively longer than the arm 3'! and each has a pivotal supportsimilar to the support 45 and is connected to one of the roller supports21 so as to guide the several rollers in arcs having radii of differentlengths and with centers spaced longitudinally of the conveyer. Thus theroller 26 is guided by the arm 44 of greatestlength and this arm has'apivotal support 50 of the smallest dimension vertically and "havingbearings in a perforation 51' (Fig. 9) in the plate 18 and a perforation52 in the plate 49 (Fig. 10). Similar perforations in the plates l8 and49 afford :bearings for "the pivotal supports .forthe arms 38 to 43inclusive, the several pivotal axes being in a common vertical plane.vAs clearly shown .iin Fig.-5,-the flanges 3G and 3| forthe severalrollers are of various heights and .overlapsulficiently to give thedesired slope to the rollers and to compensate for the thickness-oflthearms 31 to '43 inclusive.

Each of the arms 31 to 43.inclusive is provided near its free end with adownwardly projecting stud 53 engaging in a slot 54 formed in theimmediately subjacent arm. The slots 54are elongated longitudinally ofthe :arms to permit movement of .the several rollersin the requiredarcs.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,1 provide-guide rails 55 and 56 havinga common pivotal support 51 mounted near the junction of the branchconveyer I1 with the main conveyer l2. The rail 55 is curved tocon'iormto the curve of the outer side of the spiral and the rail 56 issubstantially straight to guide the loads from'the spiral in a straightline along the switch section when the latter is actuatedto connect withthe branch conveyer I1. "The rails 55 and 56 are rigidly con nectedtogether to swing above the switch section and are rigidly secured tothe pivotal support '51 which has bearings in the plates 18 and 49 atits lower end and a bearing-58 supported on anangle bar 59 projectingabove the conveyer. An oblique brace member 66 connects the upper end ofthe pivotal support '5'! to the rails 55 and 56 at a point removed fromthe pivot. To facilitate actuating these rails from oneoperativeposition to'the other, a lever 6| is'fixed on the upper end ofthe pivotal support 51 and is arranged tobe actuated by a flexible cable62. This cable may be trained over guide pulleys, as in Fig. 1, wheretheswitch section is located at such elevation that its upper surface isinaccessible to the operator.

To coactwith the movable guide rails 55 and 56, stationary guide rails63 and-64 are provided, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, these rails beingsupported in obvious'manner on the plate l8 and at such an elevationabove the tops of the rollers as to permit the passage of the movableguide rails above. A stop 55a is provided for the free end of the rail55 and a similar stop 56a for the rail 56. To frictionally retain thesection of the rollers in operative positions, small lugs 65 are mountedon or formed in the plate [8 and are so located that a pair of said lugsare adapted to receive the ball casters supporting the roller 26 betweenthem in each operative position of the switch. Thus one pair of the lugs65 frictionally retains the switch in its curved position and anotherpair retains the switch in its straight position against accidentalmovement. These lugs .65 project only slightly from the face of theplate l8 so as to permit the ball casters to pass over them with thedesired ease when the switch is operated.

Another typical use of my invention is shown in Fig. '8 wherein a main,straight conveyer is indicated by the numeral 66 and two branchconveyersby the numerals 61 and 68 respectively. In this arrangement,the supporting plate :69 .for the'movable section [5 of rollers issubstantially hexagonal in plan and said switch section of rollersmaybemoved from the straight position illustrated to such curvedpositions as to connect with and deliver loads to .orfrom (depending onthe direction of .the slope) either of the branch conveyers 61 and 68.

Operation the load along the main conveyer is now guided 5 by the:side'rails, including the stationary rail '53 and movable rail 55. Whenit is desired to take off or divert loads from the main conveyer to thebranch conveyer H, the free end of the switch section is moved laterallyof the curve to a new position in alignment with the branch conveyer andeach of the individually supported rollers l9 to 26 moves on its own areand radius to the new position in which the rollers, instead of beingradial in a curve, are disposed in parallel relation to each other. Toguide the loads to the branch conveyer over the switch, the lever 6| isactuated to swing the guide rails 55 and 56 to such position that thelatter rail is disposed in continuation of the side rail of theconveyerll and in parallel, spaced relation to the stationary rail 64.

It will be evident from Fig. 3 that the center lines of the arms 31 to44 inclusive are all tangential to the-center line of the curve formedby the rollers H! to 26 and said arms may be, within the spirit of thisinvention, so located as to be substantially tangentialto any of anumber of arcs having a common center with the conveyer curve. I

Movement of the switch section from one position .to the other isaccomplished with ease and with a minimum of wear by reason of myarrangement of the anti-friction supports for the individual rollers andthe positive guide for each roller afforded by the arms 3'! to '44inclusive with their freely turning pivots. The connectionsbetween therollers including the studs 53 engaging in the slots '54 insure theretention of each roller in its proper, substantially radial, relationto the curve formed by the entire group. The entire structure is socompact that it is peculiarly adapted for use in a spiral conveyer wherethe clearance between convolutions is small and where the bodilsubstitution of a diverter section for a section of the main conveyerwould be impossible or impractical. It will be understood, however, thatmy invention is not limited in its use to a spiral conveyer but isadapted for use wherever a movable roller switch is required ordesirable.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a spiral conveyer having a plurality ofvertically spaced convolutions, of a switch comprising, a section ofindividually and laterally movable rollers for supporting loads,connected together for movement in unison and adapted to form a part ofsaid spiral conveyer in one position and in another position to form abranch conveyer, a supporting plate extending beneath all of saidrollers and means for supporting said rollers independently of eachother on said plate, said independent supports and plate being formed tomaintain the axes of said rollers substantially horizontal in both ofsaid positions.

2. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a branchconveyer arranged to intersect said main conveyer and an articulatedsection of said main conveyer movable to connect said main conveyer tosaid branch conveyer comprising, a substantially horizontal, supportingplate, a series of rollers, pairs of legs spacing said rollers atprogressively decreasing heights from said plate down the conveyer, saidrollers and legs being movable laterally across and parallel to saidplate, a series of radius arms severally connected to said rollersrespectively for guiding them upon said plate and means connecting saidrollers together for movement in unison.

3. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a branchconveyer arranged to intersect said main conveyer and an articulatedsection of said main conveyer movable to connect said main conveyer tosaid branch conveyer comprising, a supporting plate, a series ofrollers, means supporting said rollers for relative movement upon saidplate, a series of radius arms, each rigidly connected to one of saidrollers at one end and extending at right angles thereto and pivotallysupported at the other end on said plate and means projecting from eachof said arms to slidably engage the adjacent arms whereby said arms arejoined together for move ment in unison.

l. In a device of the class described, a main conveyer, a plurality ofbranch conveyers arranged to connect with said main conveyer and anarticulated section of said main conveyer movable to connect said mainconveyer with either of said branch conveyers comprising, a supportingplate, a series of rollers, means supporting said rollers for relativemovement on said plate, a series of radius arms, each rigidly connectedto the supporting means for one of said rollers at one end and having afixed pivot near its other end to swing substantially parallel to saidplate and means operatively connecting said arms together for movementin unison.

5. A roller conveyer section comprising, a series of rollers, a radiusarm secured to each of said rollers near one end and having a fixedpivot near the other end, said radius arms being relatively movable inarcs about the axes of their pivots and means connectingsaid radius armstogether for movement in unison, said rollers being movable frompositions in spaced, substantially parallel relation to eachother toposi tions forming a curve with the rollers extending substantiallyradially to each other.

6. A roller conveyer section comprising, a series of rollers, radiusarms of progressively increasing lengths severally connected to thesuccessive rollers of said section and pivotally supported independentlyof each other, said radius arms extending longitudinally of the conveyerand having pivot centers spaced apart along the conveyer, said rollersbeing movable under the guidance of said arms in arcs having differentradii.

'7. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, asupporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-frictioncasters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guidingand supporting surface for said casters and radius arms severallyconnected to said roller-supporting members respectively and pivoted toswing in substantially parallel relation to said plate, the severalpivotal axes for said arms being spaced apart longitudinally of theconveyer and said arms being of unequal length and progressively longerfrom one end of the group of rollers to the other.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, asupporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-frictioncasters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guidingand supporting surface for said casters, radius arms severally connectednear one end to said roller-supporting members respectively andseverally having fixed pivots near their other ends to guide the severalrollers in difierent arcs upon said plate, the several pivotal axes forsaid arms being spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyer and meansconnecting each of said arms to the adjacent arms for movement inunison. I

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of rollers, asupporting member extending longitudinally of each roller, anti-frictioncasters for supporting each of said members, a plate affording a guidingand supporting surface for said casters, radius arms severally connectedto said roller-supporting members respectively, extending substantiallyat right angles thereto, and pivoted to guide the several rollers indifferent arcs upon said plate, said arms being of unequal length andprogressively longer from one end of the group of rollers to the otherand means connecting each of said arms to the adjacent arm.

10. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted toextend radially as a spiral portion of said conveyer, fixed meansextending beneath and at one side of said spiral portion of the conveyerfor guiding and supporting the individual rollers of said section formovement laterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing theindividual rollers of said section in parallel relation to said guidingand supporting member above the same and at progressively'decreasingheights therefrom down the conveyer, said legs being movable upon thetop of said fixed guiding and supporting means and means connecting saidrollers together for lateral movement to divert loads from saidconveyer.

11. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted toextend radially as a portion of said conveyer, aplane, horizontal platefor supporting the individual rollers of said section for movementlaterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing the individual rollersof said section in parallel relation to said plate and at progressivelydecreasing heights therefrom down the conveyer, said legs being movableupon and across the :top surface vof said plate and means connectingsaid rollers together for lateral movement to divert loads from saidconveyer.

12. In a spiral conveyer, a section of rollers severally adapted toextend radially as a spiral portion of said conveyer, fixed meansextending beneath and at one side of said spiral portion of the conveyorfor guiding and supporting the individual rollers of said section formovement laterally from said spiral, pairs of legs spacing theindividual rollers of said section in parallel relation above saidguiding and supporting means and at progressively decreasing heightstherefrom down the conveyer and arms severally connecting said rollerstogether and to said guiding and supporting means, said arms permittinglateral movement of the rollers of said section to divert loads fromsaid conveyor.

13. A roller conveyer switch comprising, a series of load supportingrollers, individual and separate supports for said rollers respectively,an arm secured to each of said supports, a fixed pivot for each of saidarms, said arms being relatively movable to different angular positionsseverally about the axes of their pivots and means connecting theseveral arms together for movement in unison, said rollers beingrelatively movable, each under the guidance of one of said arms to formdifferent curves.

14. A roller c onveyer section comprising, a series of relativelymovable, load supporting rollers and arms of progressively increasinglengths severally connected to the successive rollers of said sectionand each having a fixed pivot near a fixed end of the section, each ofsaid rollers being movable under the guidance of one of said arms 4

